"Flee, hide or be eaten!" IC

[Paddywhumpus]

Spoiler: Overview

Show

A few of you hunkered down last night in the Rec Center at the edge of campus. For some, it was the first meaningful sleep you had enjoyed in days. A few of you chatted about how quiet the evening was. The maddened howls and moans of the infected had been quiet and few. Someone even speculated that the worst might be behind you, as you 'feasted' on the booty you discovered in the abandoned snack machines. There is no electricity remaining in this building, but a few people snuck onto the roof last night, and noted that a few areas and buildings seem to have power. You expect that in most cases, this might be due to a generator, as you have not seen large swaths of the city

The condition of the roads has to be a major concern. A large group of infected crashed like a wave upon a sand castle, on the thousands of vehicles trying to get out of Houston, You can imagine the chaos. Terrified soccer moms stuck in gridlock, cell phone not working due to the overloaded circuits, minivan running out of gas, the kids screaming and frightened in the back. In the rearview mirror, she sees first one, then many hunched and bloodshot figures as they surround a pickup truck two cars back. A shot rings out and the sound of shattering glass, then two more shots in rapid succession. One of the slavering attackers slumps to the ground, but it's not enough. She can hear the screams of the man in the red cowboy hat as he is pulled through the broken window, hear his denials and pleas turn into soul-rending shrieks of agony and despair. The vehicles are bumper to bumper. Terrified people begin to trickle, then to pour out of their vehicles running frantically through the chaos like ants whose hill had just been kicked. Some of them ran straight into the infected. Of those, most perished horribly but quickly. For the truly unfortunate, it turns out that being eaten is NOT the worst thing one can endure. They would think about it more if they could.. But they can't. Nothing makes any sense, and nothing can change the fact that all they feel is Hunger.

Taking Father Antonios advice, you all huddled in the womens locker room. An interior room without windows or doors to the outside, and relatively solid and lockable doors on two ends. As for the rest of the Rec Center you tried to lock it down as best you could under difficult circumstances, but there are just too many doors, too many windows at ground level, too much space to protect for the few of you. About half of the group has been in what a 1st year psych student might call "shell shock". They have allowed themselves to be led to this point, but thankfully some of them are beginning to show the sparks of creativity again. Early this morning, while most of you were still asleep, some other Survivors were being chased. They broke in at the rear, near the swimming pools, but couldn't secure the entry point before their pursuers caught up. Everyone woke up and quickly discussed whether to remain hidden, to go attempt to join and assist the other survivors, or to attempt to leave the Rec Center entirely. Before the decision was made, a brief but intense firefight followed by horrified screams tells you all you needed to know. This building is no longer safe. You will have to grab what you can and get out, either at the University or Calhoun Street exits. The air outside is crisp and cool, with cloud cover hiding you from direct sunlight. There is a light breeze whispering through the trees, carrying the smell of smoke and both burned and rotting flesh.

Spoiler: What you know

Show

Seven days ago, the world went mad. Victims of a virulent plague-like virus swept through Houston, and to a lesser extent, other metropolitan areas around the world.

There are at least three ways to contract the virus.
1. There is a small chance to fall victim to the fever and delirium that affected so many in the weeks prior to the outbreak. Most people who have not already fallen victim to this form of the virus have a natural resistance to it. A very small number of people (none of you) have been known to recover from the fever-plague. Information is fairly sparse, because the fever normally either kills or it causes the person to become a violent automaton, referred to by many as 'zombies', but it the price of guessing wrong has been the downfall of many rescue sites, safe zones and strongholds so far. Some have adopted a policy of exile or death for those who come down with a fever.
2. Receiving a bite (or in exceptionally rare and unsubstantiated reports, any physical contact) can transmit a fast acting version of the virus. Most people infected in this way WILL turn, eventually, but some medications and the persons natural constitution dictate how long this takes. Rumor, again unsubstantiated, has claimed (usually third hand) that someone knows someone who survived a bite mark and didn't turn, but empirical evidence is less than 7 days in duration, so who knows if that can be trusted at all.
3. Infected blood, which makes it into the bloodstream, by any means. Unbroken skin is impervious to this, but any cut, burn or abrasion, or any membrane such as the inside of the nostrils, the inside of the mouth, the eyes, etc, are susceptible. Or so you have heard.

Yes, there have been reports of people having been dead for several hours before rising. This is relatively rare, but has been repeated often enough that it is largely considered true.

By most accounts, the Infected are slower and weaker than they would have been before. This is good news for you. However, a few Survivors have spoken of faster, more agile Infected, and a few horrific stories indicate that some of them might be capable of normal brain function. This would be BAD news for you. For the most part, the Infected seem to be blindly determined to chase down non-Infected people and either eat or infect them. (The jury is still out on how they decide between these two things, or if it is even a conscious choice).

Mostly, they seem to hunt by sight and sound. Noises and light definitely attract them. For the most part, as has been noted before, their senses, on average, seem to be lower than they would have been before the infection.

Nobody has really had the opportunity to study them closely, or if they have, you haven't run into them yet. You have heard (and seen) differing things. Some claim that the Infected are DEFINITELY still "alive" in the traditional sense. Others claim that if someone has been clinically dead for hours, and THEN gets up and starts eating people, then that thing is DEAD.

By the way. One of you is Infected. My very own ticking time bomb, just to spice things up later. Sorry to spring it on you like this, but I've asked the victi.. err... volunteer.. not to say anything. Sweet dreams.

On three separate nights within the last week, sentries (wherever you were) reported the sound of many motorcycles travelling at high speed, and a significant amount of gunfire following their path. People who have travelled in the wake of this path reports a significant number of dead zombies, and one Cop who was making his way to a Safe Zone told you that he found the burned out husk of a Harley that had crashed into a brick wall. The rider and a passenger were both burned to a crisp, but both were dressed as hard core bikers, (Think Hell's Angels), and were heavily armed. There was a flag attached to a whip antenna, but the fire had made it impossible to identify.

Roads will be difficult. Some are clear for miles, others are bumper to bumper. The pictures I post will be the ones I can find, and they will normally not be able to represent the chaos you will be seeing. I will be sure to describe the scene, pointing out any major differences in the picture (bodies, vehicles, anything interesting that the picture doesn't show).

At this point, seeing another Survivor is already a semi-rare thing. There are far more Infected prowling around than Survivors, that's for certain. Or maybe the Survivors are just doing a better job of staying hidden. That said, some of the locations that you search will have already been raided. I will make sure to describe to you the condition of the place that you have searched, but you may not have been the first to get to a place. The Outbreak has been ongoing for seven days, and a lot of the "easy pickins" will have been.. well.. picked.

Some Survivors have reported being attacked by other Survivors. (Also known as Vigilantes). Some claim to have been the victims of theft, extortion, and other miseries, while the even less fortunate speak of family members lost to their depredations.

You aren't sure about ANY other animals at this point, but you KNOW that the plague can infect both cats and rats. (You've all seen evidence of this). It is obvious when an animal is afflicted, their completely unnatural behavior, stiff legged gait, and glassy eyes being obvious indicators.

Working together can be a big deal. If two of you, (for example) both were using melee weapons against a zombie, two of you can team up, and you ADD the second persons Lethality for an almost certain ZK. Perhaps one of you has a bat (which gets a bonus to knock things prone), and one of you has a sword or machete (which gets bonuses to coup de grace against prone opponents). The machete wielder can declare that they are holding until the bat wielder knocks the zombie down. (This requires the machete wielder to make a Will-Hold roll in order to time their attack properly without losing their opportunity). If two of you are holding a door against zombies, you not only add both Strengths to your roll, you also get a Weight of Numbers bonus to your roll (equal to 5 per participant). This Weight of Numbers bonus can be a big deal, and yes, the zombies WILL use it against you too.

Spoiler: A few pics of your starting location

Show

This is the Rec Center as seen from the Calhoun Street Entrance. There are two bullet riddled vehicles on the grass just behind the bus stop, one a late model white Dodge Ram with a crunched front right fender and dim headlights still on, and the other a Nissan Altima, forest green at one point, but smoke charred, the interior completely burned out and the trunk smashed in. . Three vehicles are smashed together in the center of the intersection of Calhoun and University, all smashed beyond drivability. One is a mail truck, which looks to have T-Boned an old, rusted out Ford Astro minivan. The mail truck was then smashed from behind by a dark green lexus, the engine having been pushed back into the drivers seat. A large pool of blood still sits below the drivers side of the lexus.

Across the street, most of the plate glass windows of the businesses have been broken out. Some of the glass lies inside the building, some of it outside. Bullets, people, and other projectiles were flying in both directions for the last few days. There are no corpses in sight, no Infected, either. The silence you hear outside only amplifies the grunting and growling you hear growing louder and closer as the Infected in the Rec Center come nearer and nearer.

Father Antonio's van is across University, at the Catholic center parking lot



This is the University Avenue entrance to the Rec Center. Last night, a lot of furniture from the lobby was braced against the doors and windows. Nobody seems to have disturbed the arrangement, and it can be removed fairly quickly. Across the street, in the parking lot of the Den is a large square formation of vehicles. Two nights ago, this was the sight of a bloody, and ultimately tragic firefight. The cars were put into this position to attempt to create a barricade. Dozens of zombies were slain, as evidenced by the numerous bloodstains on the pavement. Unfortunately, the defenders numbers were too small, and they eventually succumbed heroically. A few people hid out in the pizza joint next door to the Den, but you have no idea if they are still there.

Day: 1
Date: April 1, 2016
Location: Just outside the University of Houston Rec Center on the corner of University and Calhoun.

Outbreak Level: 3
Time: 2 (Shortly after dawn)
Risk: 0 (but not for long)

Spoiler: Escape Mission Notes

Show

For when you have to take only what you can carry and run.

Prerequisites: Failed 'All Out Defense' mission OR Voluntary Evacuation. (In this case, to start the game, you will be voluntarily evacuating the Recreation Center for reasons that will be explained.

Objective: To reach a pre-determined point that is presumed safe. Whether you take NineOfSpades suggestion and head for the wilderness, look for a likely safe place to lie low or fortify nearby, trek further out with a specific place, or kind of place in mind, all options are open to you. Feel free to be discussing these ideas, your characters will have been together for a MINIMUM of 12 hours of tense, sleepless hiding. You who are starting together decided to head out on your own. You made a conscious decision to make a run for it from the Rec Center. It had been breached on one side by a large number of zombies, overwhelming the meager barricades that some people had put in place. You may have been at the Rec Center for anywhere from 12 hours to 6 days. Let me know if you are having trouble justifying your character being at that location seven days after the Outbreak had started.

Success: Survival!!

Failure: Death.. Very sad business. Game over. Lots of work put into it and all that. Lets avoid this one, shall we? (Only one of you HAS to survive to succeed, but I'd really rather keep all of you for a bit, yes?)

Special Notes:

Stand-Alone- This mission can be taken independent of any Stronghold and can last as long as it takes to get to the pre-determined point. This mission can also be piggybacked continually with other Escape Missions until a destination is reached.

Take Only What You Need- If escaping a Stronghold (like the Rec Center you are fleeing), then the larger objects must be abandoned, and can only be taken if there is a vehicle or some other means to evacuate the object. Objects with a size of CU of 4 or greater are unable to be taken unless the specific object has a means of being carried at a lesser cargo capacity.

Day To Day Survival- Each day, a character must make a Per-Survival (specific region) as described in Chapter 3 in order to find fresh food, water and evade pursuing zombies and vigilantes enough to allow the characters to rest.

My Notes: Ultimately, you will be leaving the Rec Center in a hurry. and under duress. While there are none in front of the Rec Center when you peer outside, you know that a large number have breached the back and are flowing quickly in your direction. More to come on that in the IC thread (Coming very soon)

You may choose to head straight for a place you plan to fortify, you may Scout the area, you may attempt to make a Supply Raid. You may make a break for it on foot, or you may jump into Father Antonio's church van. Duck into the nearest building, or head for Montana. The story has a known timeline (Well, by ME). Certain events will occur at certain points in time. Some of these may be able to be altered/caused/prevented by your actions. You will get as much information as you ask for. Feel free to ask questions about the situation. It never hurts to ask. You'll get one of three kinds of answers.. If I decide that your character "knows" something, you'll get a wickedly clever PM or spoiler describing what you know. If I decide you MAY know something, I might ask for a roll, and THEN send you a PM or Spoiler with the information you seek. Or, I might tell you "Your character doesn't know".. Well.. There's also always the possibility that your character is wrong, or that I'm intentionally LYING to your character to mislead them.. But we don't talk about that..

As I have mentioned before, your characters will have a short period once the game starts to decide what to do (but you CAN start that conversation at any time in the ooc thread. ) I am still making tweaks to my opening post.

Spoiler: Who is travelling with you

Show

Jorge and Annamaria are Father Antonio's younger siblings. Both freshmen at the college, they were luckily with Father Antonio when the outbreak started. They have stayed glued to his side to this point, both of them unused to making independent decisions. Though they are excellent students and wonderful people, their uncertainty about how to proceed in the face of terror has kept them largely in check. They don't speak much, except to their brother, and can usually be found praying.


A single mother (her two children were being watched by a family friend at the time of the outbreak. When Elsa rushed there after the news broke, the house was already empty, leaving the fate of her babies uncertain. Stubborn, independent and hard headed, Elsa will stick up for the little guy (and often feels as though SHE is the little guy). Once her temper is accounted for though, she is a hard-working follower, willing to challenge the status quo, but typically not having any "better" suggestions for how things should be done.


Frankie is just an inner city kid getting his big chance. He won a scholarship at a national science competition, and is thoroughly addicted to his books and figures. Brilliant, if a little oblivious. Half the time, he hardly seems to notice (or care) that the world is falling apart around him. He's cheerful, optimistic, and always looks at the bright side of things.



Lazaro was an up and coming soldier in a local gang when a nightclub stabbing put him in a coma for a week, and intensive care for three months. When he awoke from the coma, he claimed to have been visited by angels of the Lord, threatening him with damnation if he didn't change his life. In general, he is a fast talking, confident, authority hating gangbanger.. Or at least.. He was. He has truly been trying to get a handle on his violent nature, and is convinced that his soul is at risk of being sent to hell if he doesn't atone for his past transgressions (which he is very secretive about). Sometimes his mouth writes checks his body can't cash, but so far, he hasn't done anything that would make you want to throw him out of the group.

Most of you were awoken this morning by muffled gunfire, a small barrage of it shaking you out of your fitful slumber. Most of you can tell that the sounds are coming from the same building you are in. Lazaro, the former gangbanger, carefully unlocks and slowly opens the locker-room door, and the sounds intensify dramatically. "They're close", he yells, slamming the door shut again behind him and engaging the deadbolt. This was the foot that kicked the anthill, because immediately, all 14 people in the room begin scrambling, some for weapons, some for belongings, still others just darting around hysterically. Only two of you are able to take this new terror in stride and function normally, (Lorelei and Father Antonio).

Spoiler: Effects of Panic-

Show

Also, please remember to exhibit signs of panic in your actions and words, at least until you are calmed down.

Within two minutes, the halls of the Rec Center have fallen nearly silent. The "nearly" is from the now-familiar banging and crashing of the Infected rampaging through the building. Everyone has grabbed what they can carry, and has exited the back door of the locker room. Two litter-strewn and bloodstained hallways later, and you are standing near the front lobby. The first sliver of dawn is beginning to lighten the night sky outside the glass doors.


One of the doors that you had to pass in the hallway leads toward the pool area. You can hear growling and scratching sounds coming from the other side of the door. As Frankie scuttles past it though, a pilfered can of soda falls out a pouch on his backpack that was not sealed. It bounces twice before springing a leak, which loudly sprays the area down with brown syrupy goodness. The noise apparently attracts some attention, because within moments, the snarling intensifies, the door begins to shudder under repeated blows, and several hands slither from underneath to stretch toward you.

A quick look tells you that the door should hold.. for the moment, anyway. As quickly and quietly as possible, you navigate the wide and dark hallways, sometimes tripping over furniture or detritus left in the middle of the hall. Muffled curses and heavy breathing are the primary sound at the moment, though you can still hear your pursuers getting nearer. A conservative guess tells you that you may have about a minute (game time) to make a decision. From either vantage (Calhoun or University entrances), you can see several (at least 8 individuals, starting from at least four locations) Infected moving quickly around the building toward the pool area. Within seconds, they have left your sight, and at least for the moment, none can be seen.

As soon as "outside" can be seen through the plate glass windows, Elsa squeals and points toward the last of the Infected as they pass out of sight. "Did you see that?", she pants.. "He was dragging someone with him!" She seems particularly horrified by this prospect, a sensation obviously shared by the other Survivors as you gather near the doors for your escape. A cacophony of "We should go to", and "Lets head toward", and "We need a" erupts. It is clear that the situation could easily go from bad to worse, as different groups look like they are about to sprint out of the building in different directions. Tensions are running high, and people are about to start making bad decisions.

Not that it was much better last night. Even when things were calm and relaxed, as people stretched out on the locker room floor or on the benches provided there, there was no consensus on where to go or what to do. Some argued for vehicles and safe locations far away, while others demanded finding a defensible position nearby to minimize the risks of travelling. Some put a higher premium on food, while others preferred prioritizing weapons, distance, or even finding more survivors. It will be up to you (the group) to determine where you go and how you get there. Hungry danger lurks around many corners, and they are just hoping that you will drop in for dinner.

The sun has barely crested the horizon at this point, and a dainty fog rests lightly upon the area. (not enough to affect vision). Currently, out the doors of the Rec Center, you can't see anything moving. No birds, no dogs, no vehicles, and definitely no humans (Infected or otherwise). Father Antonio has a Church van across the street next to the Newman Catholic Center. There is also a parking structure across Calhoun from the Rec Center, and a massive parking lot to the North-Northeast. FINDING a vehicle (if you choose to use one) won't be the problem. Finding one with gas, keys, and enough room for everyone.. THAT will be the problem.



**Feel free to ask any questions about your surroundings. You have a few moments of safety in which to choose where you are heading and how you are getting there. Go.**

[DeltaK]

Professor Alton Symmok is not having a good morning. He is up close against the glass looking out the University Dr. exit of the building. His eyes are scanning the outdoor, looking for any possible issues. Every few seconds the sounds of the approaching horde echo through the building from behind, and every time he quickly glances back to make sure they're not here yet.

"Father, where is your car again? You have the keys? Is it gassed up? We need to go now. It isn't safe in here, and might be out there. We need to go, now!" he stutters, glancing back the way they came, as a moan thunders down the hall. "Lets go go go!" He begins to nibble on one of his fingernails.

[Simsimillia]

Laura

"Shut up dammit!", Laura barked at the Professor and continued to scan the area while trying to think, formulate a plan. But her thoughts were running in circles, she was losing it. She had been in quite a few chaotic situations in her life, she should be able to handle this dammit! The grip around her father's gun tightened. "You're right though. We need to go. Get to the van first, it's our best bet."

[Konatsat]

Lorelei didn't like this one bit, but she knew panicking would only exacerbate the situation. She grasps the handle of her bat tight and attempts to reason with the group, occasionally glancing in the direction of the zombies. "Guys, we need to think. If we try to make it to the van without planning ahead something's going to go wrong."

[NineOfSpades]

June paced back and forth, going no more than three or four steps in one direction before turning round and starting off again. She was getting cagey, and she knew it. Making it on her own the first few days had actually been the easiest part. Everything was so fresh in her head, the simple survival needs to manage minute by minute, that she hadn’t really had any time to process anything. It had kept her head on a laser focus. Run, hide, find food. There’d been no time to stop, no time to let anything settle or sink in, and certainly no time for reflection on the world falling apart around her. But that had all come to an end once she settled in here, at their rapidly failing shelter. She’d had time to stop, to catch her breath, and all those oily black feelings that had been shoved into some storeroom in the back of her mind were slipping under the door and getting their nails into her skull. She was antsy alright, hell, she was getting downright twitchy. Other people were talking, but she had trouble hearing them over the pounding in her head. Every few seconds her hand would go to her firearm, feeling its weight as a sort of anchor. She hadn’t pulled it out yet, but the temptation to do so was getting harder to resist. “Not sure you got much time to draw up any plans there, Patton” She said, eyes darting between the group and the far doors. “Grab what you can, ‘cause we gotta be outta here ten minutes ago”. It was all she could manage to keep her voice from cracking as she barked out the words. She was tired and her nerves were shot so full of holes that she'd probably jump out of her skin if somebody so much as said 'boo'.

[Paddywhumpus]

From deeper within the Rec Center, you hear the sound of glass shattering, followed by two rapid gunshots and a high pitched scream that lasts longer than you would have thought possible.

"I can see the effing van from here", Lazaro grumbles angrily. He is rubbing his arms as though he was cold, but the temperature is quite reasonable. "If that's what we're gonna do, we should just effing do it, ese!" He slams a fist up against the thick plate glass of the window next to the door looking out the University Street exit. "All those.. things.. ran the other way, it's clear. A la verga, is that a dog, man?" Elsa, her eyes still red from crying all night, staggers up next to him. "Awww", she starts, he's so.. What is he doing?".. The dog, likely some kind of small spaniel mix, had crept into view from behind a car, its leash dragging the ground behind it, and was now licking a deep red stain on the pavement. "Aww man, that's gross!", exclaims Lazaro, turning away, eyes furtively scanning all of the weapons in the room..

Jorge, Annamaria and Frankie are standing with their backs against the wall, Annamaria stealing glances down the hallway toward where the screams can no longer be heard. "We have to hurry", she pants, looking like she is in rough shape. But not the worst. Frankie, for all of his normal optimism, is hyperventilating, his hands on his knees, bent over with his head hanging down. A small puddle of spittle rests on the scuffed linoleum. For those of you that didn't sleep well last night, Frankie was up most of the evening retching into a toilet.

Though he doesn't answer, perhaps out of distraction, you can actually see and hear Father Antonio's van keys jingling in his hand. He is trying to console his brother and sister, as well as the church members that he brought with him. He is one of the few that seems to remain in control.

"NO"! Elsa's cry of alarm brings everyones head spinning around. She has both hands clamped onto the window, her nose just an inch from it. "RUN", she cries. Looking out the window, you see that a single person has limped into view. Wearing an "Infectious Grooves" T-Shirt and baggy (and now bloody) khaki shorts, you can see from the large pink cast on her lower leg that she was a) recently normal, and b) has a broken leg. Her head swivels back and forth, finally alighting on the small dog. Her sedate limping is forgotten, and she breaks into an awkward shuffle, nearly falling with each step of her left leg. The dog looks up, its ears flat against its head, and backs away, cringing and ducking its head, but not running away. Every few steps, he puts his left paw into the air and holds it out, waving it at the young lady.

Spoiler: Location

Show

Both the girl and the dog came into view from behind the Pizza Hut across the street, near the large red 2. You currently see no other signs of life.

You had gone an entire night without hearing the moaning or howling of the infected. That peaceful time has ended. From near the locker rooms where you spent yesterday evening, you can now hear the snarling, snuffling, plaintive moans of infected drawing nearer. It's hard to say, but you probably have less than a minute before something unpleasant sticks its head out of the locker room.

"Seriously, what the hell, guys", Lazaro snarls again. "Are we doing this or what"?

Spoiler: Roll Request

Show

Anyone who is panicked who would like to make a WIll: Calm Self roll, please do so.

If you are NOT panicked, and would like to make an Emp: Calm Other roll, please do so.

If you are taking any other actions at this time, please let me know. (I am assuming that everything you plan to carry, you already have on your person. You have left the locker room, and are standing at the entry lobby on the University Street exit, looking out over a small amount of furniture used to barricade these doors (poorly), and through the still undamaged glass doors of the Rec Center. )

Spoiler: Jump in!

Show

Still waiting to hear from Iukitux and wkwkwkwk1. I had been trying to wait for you guys before I started posting, but I have to move this along. Jump on in!)